Outdoor events coming up in Mid-Michigan

Adults ages 16 and up can learn how to add years to a tree's life with proper pruning at a horticulture workshop, 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum, 2142 North Genesee Road, Burton.

Cost: $7 person. Pre-registration not required, but recommended.

Call (810) 736-7100 ext. 6 or (810) 789-8568.

Spring Tree Sale

Orders are now being taken for the Genesee Conservation District's annual spring tree sale. A wide variety of trees and related items are available at www.gettrees.org. Trees and rain barrels will be available for pickup at For-Mar Nature Center, 2142 N. Genesee Rd., Burton, on April 29-30.

Quiet Water Symposium

Paddling enthusiasts and other outdoor recreationists can enjoy a wide range of exhibits and presentations at the 16th Annual Quiet Water Symposium, 9 am – 6 pm, March 5 at the Pavilion for Livestock and Agriculture Education, Farm Lane south of Mt Hope on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is offering a spring turkey hunting workshop for women on April 2 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Gander Mountain, 5348 S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage. This workshop is part of the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program.

Instructors will provide participants with all of the information needed to begin turkey hunting, including season rules and regulations, habitat, scouting, patterning, hunting technique and different types of equipment needed for a successful hunt.

Young hunters ages 10 and up are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Cost is per person is $10 and includes all workshop materials, including a turkey call. Participants must pre-register for this workshop as space is limited. The registration deadline is March 31.

The DNRE has removed the fishing pier at Lake Dubonnet State Forest Campground, located four miles northwest of Interlochen via US-31 and Gonder Road, due to structural damage beyond repair. A replacement structure will depend on the success of future recreation grant funding.

Details: DNRE Recreation Specialist Todd Neiss at (231) 775-9061, ext. 6045. Information regarding other fishing and camping opportunities may be found on the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Tawas Point Lighthouse Keepers

The DNRE is seeking volunteers for the 2011 season to spend a week or two as lighthouse keepers at the Tawas Point Lighthouse at Tawas Point State Park, 686 Tawas Beach Rd., along the shores of Lake Huron in East Tawas.

The lighthouse has been in operation since 1876 and is one of only nine lighthouses on the Great Lakes with a working Fresnel lens, and is still an active aid to navigation.

As a lighthouse keeper, volunteers would primarily be responsible for greeting guests, leading visitor tours, providing guests with historical information about the museum and the area, working in the museum's gift shop and performing light maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Volunteers will also be required to learn basic historical information about the lighthouse. Volunteers should be physically able to lead tours through the lighthouse and tower, perform housekeeping duties and light maintenance or lawn care.

Volunteers can stay in the newly-renovated lighthouse keeper's quarters for $250 per person, per week in exchange for their volunteer contribution. The living quarters include two bedrooms and a modern kitchen and bath.

The Lightkeeper program is open to singles and couples 18 years and older, between March 4 and Dec. 23.

Volunteers are needed to cut invasive shrubs from natural areas within state parks and recreation areas. Volunteer stewardship workdays will be held throughout March at the following southeastern Michigan state parks and recreation areas: